<p>Previous studies have primarily focused on the positive effects of career calling, yet some research highlights a potential negative impact on occupational well-being. Based on conservation of resources theory, we explored the double-edged sword effect of career calling on Chinese grassroots civil servants’ occupational well-being (job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion), as well as its underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions. A sample of 430 Chinese grassroots civil servants anonymously completed the survey. The results indicated that career calling was positively related to resilience, which in turn correlated with both greater job satisfaction and lower emotional exhaustion (positive pathway). Simultaneously, career calling was positively related to workload, which in turn correlated with higher emotional exhaustion (negative pathway). Unexpectedly, workload showed no significant association with job satisfaction. Perceived organizational support significantly moderated the positive pathway of career calling but not the negative pathway. These findings reveal a double-edged sword effect of career calling on occupational well-being that has practical implications for enhancing employees’ occupational well-being.</p>